Licensed Practical Nurse - Full Time - PN: 20041449

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 56,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) seeks a Licensed Practical Nurse for Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare in Athens, Ohio. You will provide direct nursing care in a residential setting, implement treatment plans, monitor patient conditions, administer medications, and support daily living skills for adults with behavioral health needs.

This full-time position offers structured orientation and works with a multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, compassionate care for residents at the

Qualifications

• Licensed Practical Nurse license issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing.
• IV Therapy certification if dialysis is administered (for certain roles).
• Ability to perform general nursing tasks and document care accurately.

Responsibilities

• Provide general nursing care and direct support in a residential setting.
• Administer medications and monitor patient responses per treatment plans.
• Assist with personal care, hygiene, and daily living activities.
• Assist lower-level staff and participate in team meetings.
• Maintain records, stock meds, and ensure ward security.

Skills

Nursing

Critical Thinking

Professional

Education

LPN license (Ohio)

Job description

What You’ll Do At DBH

This position focuses on supporting adults in a residential setting to develop essential independent living and social skills. The staff member will work directly with assigned consumers, implementing personal and behavior plans and helping with skills such as hygiene, medication management, food preparation, budgeting, and social interactions. The role involves maintaining a safe and supportive environment, de-escalating crises, modeling professional behavior, and transporting consumers to appointments as necessary. Staff will work closely with team members to develop individualized service plans, document progress, and maintain the facility’s cleanliness, contributing to a structured and supportive community. Additional duties include:

• Administers oxygen; applies sterile dressing; adheres to infection control practices; inserts catheters; reinserts gastrostomy tubes, suctions, irrigates wounds; collects specimens; assists physicians with physical exams, treatments &/or laboratory tests; assists in emergencies by administering first-aid, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; restrains patients as necessary; administers controlled drugs [e.g., narcotics, minor tranquilizers] & non-controlled medication in oral, rectal, topical or injectable form [i.e., intramuscular & subcutaneous injections only] & provides medication instructions to patients.
• Maintains medication accountability records (e.g., charts patient records, prepares & counts medication, maintains medication stock & medical equipment & supplies); observes, documents & reports patient conditions (e.g., medication reactions, treatment responses, patient behavior & progress) & prepares &/or maintains related reports & records (e.g., unusual incident reports, patient records, medication reports, seclusion/restraint logs, treatment plan).
• Provides general nursing, direct care &/or programming assistance (e.g., takes patient vital signs; assists with personal grooming & hygiene, bathing, or daily living activities; administers topical ointments & solutions, eye, ear &/or nose drops; responds to patient codes; escorts patients & assists with recreational activities & scheduled appointments; provides one to one &/or group intervention & patient therapeutic education as stated in the treatment plan).
• Provides assistance (i.e., provides work direction, orientation & training) to lower-level direct care staff (e.g., therapeutic program workers, psychiatric attendants) in providing general unskilled nursing care (e.g., dressing, bathing, feeding) to patients; precepts & provides direction to new LPN staff as assigned; attends & participates in various meetings (e.g., staff conferences, committees, interdisciplinary team meetings, in-service training programs, meetings) as required.
• Orders medication & medical supplies; cleans nursing station & medication room/medication cart (e.g., cleans, sterilizes & restocks cart; defrosts & cleans medication refrigerator) & performs clerical tasks (e.g., answers phone, files); ensures security of ward unit.

What You’ll Do At DBH

This position focuses on supporting adults in a residential setting to develop essential independent living and social skills. The staff member will work directly with assigned consumers, implementing personal and behavior plans and helping with skills such as hygiene, medication management, food preparation, budgeting, and social interactions. The role involves maintaining a safe and supportive environment, de-escalating crises, modeling professional behavior, and transporting consumers to appointments as necessary. Staff will work closely with team members to develop individualized service plans, document progress, and maintain the facility’s cleanliness, contributing to a structured and supportive community. Additional duties include:

• Administers oxygen; applies sterile dressing; adheres to infection control practices; inserts catheters; reinserts gastrostomy tubes, suctions, irrigates wounds; collects specimens; assists physicians with physical exams, treatments &/or laboratory tests; assists in emergencies by administering first-aid, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; restrains patients as necessary; administers controlled drugs [e.g., narcotics, minor tranquilizers] & non-controlled medication in oral, rectal, topical or injectable form [i.e., intramuscular & subcutaneous injections only] & provides medication instructions to patients.
• Maintains medication accountability records (e.g., charts patient records, prepares & counts medication, maintains medication stock & medical equipment & supplies); observes, documents & reports patient conditions (e.g., medication reactions, treatment responses, patient behavior & progress) & prepares &/or maintains related reports & records (e.g., unusual incident reports, patient records, medication reports, seclusion/restraint logs, treatment plan).
• Provides general nursing, direct care &/or programming assistance (e.g., takes patient vital signs; assists with personal grooming & hygiene, bathing, or daily living activities; administers topical ointments & solutions, eye, ear &/or nose drops; responds to patient codes; escorts patients & assists with recreational activities & scheduled appointments; provides one to one &/or group intervention & patient therapeutic education as stated in the treatment plan).
• Provides assistance (i.e., provides work direction, orientation & training) to lower-level direct care staff (e.g., therapeutic program workers, psychiatric attendants) in providing general unskilled nursing care (e.g., dressing, bathing, feeding) to patients; precepts & provides direction to new LPN staff as assigned; attends & participates in various meetings (e.g., staff conferences, committees, interdisciplinary team meetings, in-service training programs, meetings) as required.
• Orders medication & medical supplies; cleans nursing station & medication room/medication cart (e.g., cleans, sterilizes & restocks cart; defrosts & cleans medication refrigerator) & performs clerical tasks (e.g., answers phone, files); ensures security of ward unit.

This is an hourly position covered by the OCSEA/AFSCME bargaining unit (Chapter 560), with a pay range of 10 on the OCSEA Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are 1st shift (6:30am to 3:00pm), 2nd shift (2:30pm to 11:00pm), and 3rd shift (10:45pm to 6:45am) and may work weekends and holidays as needed. This position is located within Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare Campus at 100 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701.

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information

• Must be able to complete a 4 week full time orientation (Will include 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts, and weekends)
• May work weekends and holidays; may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpredictable patient behavior
• Training and development required to remain in the classification after employment.

At DBH we strive to attract and sustain a diverse workforce by recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining high-performing employees who work collaboratively to balance efforts toward providing prevention and recovery supports and fostering inclusion that inspires innovation, encourages respect and promotes unlimited success.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.dbh.ohio.gov/

Position Qualifications

License to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse issued by Ohio Board of Nursing pursuant to Section 4723 Ohio Revised Code & proof of completion of an approved course in medication administration.

Note: Licensed Practical Nurses who administer dialysis treatment must possess Certification in IV Therapy pursuant to Section 4723.17 Ohio Revised Code.

Job Skills:

Nursing

Technical Skills:

Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Basic Medical Procedures, Communications, Nursing, Professional, Therapy/Therapeutical Services, Medical Charting

Professional Skills:

Critical Thinking, Cultural Awareness, Building Trust, Emotional Intelligence, Confidentiality

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Organization

Behavioral Health - Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Agency Contact Name and Information

[e-mail]

Unposting Date

Ongoing

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Athens County-Athens

Compensation

$27.56

Schedule

Full-time

Classified Indicator

Classified

Technical Skills

Basic Medical Procedures, Medical Charting, Behavioral Health, Mental Health, Nursing, Professional, Therapy/Therapeutical Services

Professional Skills

Building Trust, Critical Thinking, Cultural Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Confidentiality

Agency Overview

Licensed Practical Nurse

Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Who We Are

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

DBH Values

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promote wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.